Fiction becomes fact in boy's living room
- Publication: La Crosse Tribune
- Date: 1987-05-18
- Author: Grant Blum
- Page: 8
- Language: English
When Jeffrey Harrison is not busy earning A's at Longfellow Middle School, he probably is in the world of science fiction with his robot pal, Dalek.
Dalek, a character in the Public Broadcasting Service TV series "Dr. Who," is one of the villains in the weekly drama.
Jeffrey's sister Sarah, 9, has a quick explanation for her brother's interest in Dalek.
"He likes the bad guys," she said. Both are children of James and Jane Harrison, N2339 Fen Lockney Drive.
Jeffrey built the replica of a robot with the help of an uncle, John Sutton, 215 S. 21st Place. "I wanted an extra credit project," the Longfellow sixth-grade student said, "and most of my friends like 'Dr. Who.'"
He can hide inside the 5-foot-high "robot" on caster wheels and give life to his imagination.
Jeffrey began the project in mid-January after getting a technical manual on how to build Dalek and other "Dr. Who" characters.
Dalek is a combination of materials, heavy cardboard, wallpaper and black spray paint.
He is covered with 57 plastic foam balls, but a good science fiction buff calls them sensors.
The laser beam gun bears a suspicious resemblance to Mom's egg beater, while the manipulator for dealing with power vacuum might look like a toilet plunger.
A spray painted stainless steel pan and a flashing yellow light complete Dalek's headgear and prepare him for whatever outer space adventures loom in his way.
Jeff plans to display him at a "Dr. Who" fan club convention in Madison this fall.
When he is not checking into other solar systems, Jeff reads books on science and military history. A booklet he wrote on his uncle's World War II experiences as a bomber pilot is in the Harry Spence School library.
Caption: Jeffrey Harrison inside his replica of 'Dr. Who.'
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Blum, Grant (1987-05-18). Fiction becomes fact in boy's living room. La Crosse Tribune p. 8.
- MLA 7th ed.: Blum, Grant. "Fiction becomes fact in boy's living room." La Crosse Tribune [add city] 1987-05-18, 8. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Blum, Grant. "Fiction becomes fact in boy's living room." La Crosse Tribune, edition, sec., 1987-05-18
- Turabian: Blum, Grant. "Fiction becomes fact in boy's living room." La Crosse Tribune, 1987-05-18, section, 8 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Fiction becomes fact in boy's living room | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Fiction_becomes_fact_in_boy%27s_living_room | work=La Crosse Tribune | pages=8 | date=1987-05-18 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=23 April 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Fiction becomes fact in boy's living room | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Fiction_becomes_fact_in_boy%27s_living_room | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=23 April 2025}}</ref>
